The hidden weapon in the Castlevania: Belmont's Curse demo is the Cestus, a pair of fast gauntlets in the Paris Streets — Sewer Reservoir. After obtaining the Arcane Whip, reveal a concealed Anchor above the room's central grate platform to reach its chest. Be ready to fight: collecting the weapon triggers an enemy ambush.
Where to find the Cestus
The Sewer Reservoir is the destination to look for on your map. Rock Paper Shotgun's Cestus walkthrough places it immediately after the demo's first Mirror of Life save point and identifies the Arcane Whip, obtained by defeating The Fallen, as the prerequisite.
| Detail | Cestus information |
|---|---|
| Weapon family | Gauntlets, also categorized as Brass Knuckles |
| Location | Paris Streets — Sewer Reservoir |
| Listed attack | 25, according to IGN |
| Combat advantage | Repeated attacks increase damage |
The attack value comes from IGN's weapons guide. It does not describe the weapon's entire appeal: the Cestus attacks faster than Rose's starting Longsword and rewards sustained punching.
How to reach the hidden chest
Follow this sequence for the demo route documented by Rock Paper Shotgun:
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Obtain the Arcane Whip. Defeat The Fallen first. The whip lets Rose latch onto golden and purple Anchors to reach elevated platforms.
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Enter the Sewer Reservoir. Use the room after the first Mirror of Life save point as your starting landmark.
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Climb toward the middle of the room. Swing upward until Rose stands on the grate platform aligned with the center of the large staircase visible in the background.
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Whip straight upward. This reveals a concealed Anchor above Rose. Hook onto it and use it to launch higher.
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Reach and open the large chest. Continue into the room above and jump up to interact with the chest. Rock Paper Shotgun reports that the demo displays a congratulatory developer message when you uncover this secret.
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Equip the Cestus and clear the ambush. Enemies appear after the chest is opened. Defeat them to finish the encounter.
The crucial landmark is the central grate beneath the hidden Anchor. If you have reached the upper platforms but cannot find a way forward, return to that position and aim the Arcane Whip directly overhead.
How to use the Cestus
The Cestus favors close combat and repeated hits. Both Rock Paper Shotgun and GameSpot's weapon guide describe gauntlets becoming stronger as Rose continues attacking.
Rock Paper Shotgun also describes a visible glow that builds as Rose lands punches. That glow fades after a few seconds without attacking, so the benefit is temporary.
- Use openings for several punches. The weapon's speed helps you build damage while an enemy is vulnerable.
- Watch the glow. It signals the increasing damage described in the demo walkthrough.
- Combine punches with the Arcane Whip. Attack immediately after latching onto an enemy to perform an Uppercut.
- Keep room to evade. Maintaining the damage boost is useful, but do not remain within an enemy's attack just to preserve it.
The Uppercut provides another reason to try the weapon beyond its fast basic attacks. Rock Paper Shotgun identifies the move by name, while GameSpot describes the gauntlet-and-whip combination launching enemies upward for potential aerial follow-ups.
FAQ
Why do some Cestus directions mention grates and a sliding passage?
The published routes differ. Rock Paper Shotgun's demo walkthrough uses the hidden overhead Anchor. IGN instead describes descending through grates, breaking a statue, sliding through a concealed passage, and crossing wooden platforms to the chest.
Both identify the Sewer Reservoir and describe an enemy encounter after opening the chest. The steps above follow the documented demo route; keep the two routes separate when navigating.
Is the Cestus only a demo weapon?
No. IGN and TheGamer both list it among the game's weapons and place it in the Sewer Reservoir. The demo's hidden weapon is also an early weapon pickup in their broader location guides.
Does the Cestus need Holy Light or Aerial Rush?
Neither ability is listed as a requirement for Rock Paper Shotgun's demo route. The ability you need for that route is the Arcane Whip, which reveals and reaches the concealed Anchor.
